ALKBH5-mediated m6A modification of circFOXP1 promotes gastric cancer progression by regulating SOX4 expression and...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as key regulators of cellular processes.
• Their role in gastric cancer (GC) pathogenesis is increasingly recognized.
• Specific circRNAs may serve as biomarkers or therapeutic targets in GC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role and mechanism of circFOXP1 in gastric cancer.
• To evaluate circFOXP1 as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for GC.
• To explore circFOXP1 as a therapeutic target in GC.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative real-time PCR to assess circFOXP1 expression in GC tissues and cell lines.
• Correlation analysis between circFOXP1 expression and clinical parameters (tumor size, metastasis, TNM stage, survival).
• In vitro functional assays (proliferation, invasion, cell cycle) and in vivo tumor xenograft models.
• Mechanistic studies involving m6A modification, SOX4 regulation, and microRNA sponging (miR-338-3p).

Main Results:

• circFOXP1 expression was significantly upregulated in GC tissues compared to normal tissues.
• High circFOXP1 expression correlated with larger tumor size, lymph node metastasis, advanced TNM stage, and poorer prognosis (DFS and OS).
• circFOXP1 knockdown inhibited GC cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth in vivo.
• Mechanistically, circFOXP1, regulated by ALKBH5-mediated m6A modification, promotes GC progression by upregulating SOX4 and sponging miR-338-3p.

Conclusions:

• circFOXP1 is a novel oncogenic circRNA in gastric cancer.
• circFOXP1 serves as an independent prognostic biomarker for GC patients.
• circFOXP1 represents a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer treatment.